Royals raise stakes in district standings

Friday

PRINCE GEORGE — Within the last 24 hours, it’s been quite a wild ride for both the Colonial Heights and Prince George softball teams.

PRINCE GEORGE — Within the last 24 hours, it’s been quite a wild ride for both the Colonial Heights and Prince George softball teams.

Both had to face two of the other top Central District teams the night before, Thomas Dale and Matoaca.

On Thursday evening, the stakes were risen even higher as the Colonials just came off a huge win over the Warriors as the Royals fell to the Knights.

Which team would prevail?

For six straight innings, one couldn’t have asked for a better game. Both Royals pitcher Lauren Vinson and Colonials pitcher Savannah Phillingane gave it all they got using speed, high velocity and patience on the mound.

Both were challenged and both prevailed, however, one had to lose. Between the two there were 18 strikeouts.

But similar to the games that were played the night before, one bad break, would seal the victory.

Prince George edged Colonial Heights 1-0 on Thursday picking up its sixth win in the district and a tie for first place.

“Colonial Heights has improved its game for the past few years. They are pulling up the right players to make a move,” said Prince George coach Pat Waguespack said. “Their pitching has stepped up big and they force you to come to work. They know how to move the ball around.”

However, despite the 1-0 loss, the Colonials outhit the Royals by far.

Reannen Stephenson and Kari Toombs both laid down beautiful bunts to get on base.

Then in the fourth inning, Phillingane ripped a ball to past first base to squeeze out a hit. Later Lauren Miller drilled a ball past second base to put runners on first and second but a fly ball ended the inning.

“I try to tell the girls that it’s going to be a battle every night. We were a little tired, but each one has to keep their head up and come ready to play,” Waguespack said. “We knew Colonial Heights was going to be a fight, but that’s when you hope that the girls that you put out will hang tough and get the job done.”

Prince George tried to get a rhythm going in the bottom of the fourth. Maggie Roberts blasted a triple to deep center putting her in scoring position, but Aiden O’Hare’s fly foul ball to the right field fence was caught by the Colonials’ Rachel Barefoot to end the inning.

Colonial Heights tested the waters again in the fifth with a base hit to left field by Autumn Musselwhite and then in the sixth when Caitlin Underhill and Phillingane got back-to-back singles.

But that wasn’t enough as the game-winning run was brought in off a wild pitch off of home plate that allowed the Royals’ Katie Christopher to score.

Christopher led off the inning with a single to right field, but there was an error on the throw to the right field to first base allowing her to run to second base.

“We just have to start hitting at the right time and try not to panic in the offensive department,” Waguespack said. “We haven’t reached our peak yet.”

•Court Wills can be reached at cwills@progress-index.com.

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